Second Case Of West Nile Virus Documented In Ventura County

Posted on Friday, August 31, 2012 2:40pm

A second case of a potentially dangerous flu-like disease has been documented in Ventura County.

A 75 year old Simi Valley man spent nine days in the hospital after contracting West Nile Virus. He’s since been released from the hospital. On August 20th, an eastern Ventura County woman was confirmed to have contracted, but recovered from the disease.

West Nile Virus is transmitted to humans, and animals through mosquito bites. Most people bitten by infected mosquitoes don’t contract the disease, but in a small percentage, especially of those who are older, or who have weakened immune systems, it can be serious, and even fatal.

Ventura County Public Health officials are urging people to use insect repellant, to avoid being out at dawn, and dusk, which are peak times for mosquito activity, and to eliminate standing water on your property which can provide breeding spots for the insects.